Device for testing pipes



A. ZOR

DEVICE FOR TESTING PIPES Filed Nov. 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Je GMW y Inventur:

Jam, 4 9 i927.

.A. ORE

- DEVICE FOR TESTING PIPES l Filed Nov. a, v192:4 2 Sheets- Sheet E MM2? l Patented Jan. .4, 1927.

UNITED STATES nEvIcE non TESTING Plans.

Application led November 8, 1924, Serial No. 748,746, and in Germany November 5, 1923.

My invention relates to an improved device for testing pipes, especially boiler plp'es, parts of armature, elements of hot water and steamheating,apparatus, andelements, to

Astate theirl resistancy against inner ressure.

This invention consists principal y inthe application of two differential pistons, the spaces of which may be divided or connected in four different combinations by a vsliding piston, with the aid of a conduit of water` under pressure, whereby 'v all managements which are required by such testing, `sa' `the putting the plpe under strain by the with water, the adjusting under testing pressure, and the discharge, are performed, one after another indue succession by a mere shifting of the sliding piston.

A further purpose of thls inventiony consists in adjusting the testing pressure of the tightening flan e's by means of two special-` water-pistons, t e pressure of which against each other may be controlled by a change of the leverage,I v

To make my invention completely understood, I refer to the accom anying drawings, which show, as an exam e, the applicationof my improved testingevice, in testing the air-pipes in railway-workshops. L Fi l shows, partiall in a diagram, a lcngitu inal section throug my improved testing-device, while Figs. 2, 3 and Il indicate the varying positions of the sliding piston, to answer varying purposes.`

On a' bedding not shown, of suitable length, slightl inclined downwardly, the arrangement Aofy the differential pistons has been shown at the deeper end, while on the bedding, at distances to be adjusted as desired, the ange .of the abutment has been Fil arranged in such a manner, ,that the returnaction of the forces produced by the ti htening of the pipe is taken up by the be ding.

The essential part of the device consists'of the two cylinders at anda2 within which, by

means of the dierential pistons 1 and 11, four spaces A, iii 0,1), have been formed. These four spaces are sup lied, 'by choice, by means of the slidingeplston 21 moving within the casing 20, with water from the conduit under pressure of about 2 atmospheres, according to actual position of said .ngi

`end against the valve 3, will open to the discharge-pipe.

" The differential piston l carries within its 'hollow piston-rod, projecting'from the cylinder, the binding flange 2, which, by itself, forms .a kind of dipping-piston, carrying in its face a anged disc of leather or the llke. When the steering-piston has been shifted into the position shown by Fig. 2, the spaces A and D will stand under the pressure .of the driving water, while the spaces B and C are without pressure. The two pistons 1 and l1 are going into their outermost righthand. osition.. New, the pipe to be tested is place between the tightening iiange 2 and the resistance-flange, which, previously, has been adjusted at about the distance required by the distance of the length ofthe pipe up to the next resistance-flange.

The valve 6 shutting the s ace D' against the space B is so much loade by the spring 7 that it cannot yield to the pressure of the water from theconduit. ln Fig. 1 itis shown, that the steering-pis- .ton 2l has been brought by hand intothe position of Fig. 1. c rlhe spaces A, B, and D, now, stand under the pressure of water, while the space C is without pressure. The

iston l1, accordingly, will remain within its outermost position to the right, while the piston l, owing to the difference yofthe area at both sides of the piston, will be shifted to the left. The flange 2, by .means of this motion, will place the pipe to be tested into a fixed position between itself and the abut-l ment-flange. On the further movement of the piston l, while the piston 2 is prohibited from further following the piston, the said piston 2, on bearing with its dippingl-pistont e latter against the pressure of the spring 4, thus allowingthe water to issue from the `space B throu h a bore of the iianfgls andv to enter into t e pipe to be tested, To permit they air to escape from said pipe, a plpe'has been yestablished near the' abut-l -ment-flange, which bore connects with the casing of the-valve 23. This valve 1s so calculated, that' lit continues in a lowered state, as long as the air continues to escape,

whileit is lifted by the water which folling the same. l

into the position LII. T

. ranged consisting of water. ed by the conduit. To trial test the controlling-piston 21 should be brought into the position IV, Fig. 4; The spaces A and B then, are cut 0H and spaces D'and C are connected to the water-supply. The piston 1 remains-bearing against the testin -pipe, the piston 11 is moving to the left, un er the iniiuence of the greater acting area. The smaller piston-area, advancing within the space D, causes the shutting of the returnvalve 5. By means of an increased pressure, the spring-pressure 7 loading the valve 6, will be overcome, andthe pressure will be transmitted into the space B and through the valve- 3, kept as described, into the pipe to he tested. The pressure of water reached may be read from the manometer 10. As

-soon as the desired testing pressure has been reached, the controlling-piston 21 is shifted e spaces A and B, now, are closed, space D is placed under the pressure of water, and space C is connected to the discharge-pipe and, therefore, without any pressure. The pipe to be tested, accordingly is retained under the higher pressure, its joints are hammered and the pipe is examined, so as to reveal possible weak-- nesses and the pipe may be tested by knockfor ascertaining its durability of the seam and the like, While the piston 11 re- `turns to the utmost position to the right, as

in the beginning.

Hereater, the controlling-piston is returned into its primary pos'tion I (Fig. 1), spaces A and lil) are put under the pressure of water, and spaces B and C are connected to the discharge-pipe. rlhe piston 1 recedes towards the right, whereby the tested pipe becomes free and another pipe may be put to testing, the'proceeding going on as described before. Y

To prevent any danger by careless manoeuvring, a security valve has been arof a spring 8 which opens as soon as the maximum pressure for which the apparatus has been constructed, has been reached.

To prevent thin pipes from bending and from cutting into the ads under the pressure of the buier during the testing process, means may be provided, as shown in Fig. 1, for regulating this pressure. For this purpose two cyllnders 12 and 13 are provided which are fitted with pistons and connectefd, one with the chamber B and the other with the chamber A. Thepiston of the cylinder 12 is controlled by a spring 18 which surrounds the piston rod 14 and bears against an abutment on the rod as mWell as against a xed abutment 17. A lever 15 has its free end connected to the rod 14 and supports the piston of the cylinder 13 by means 'chamber A which prevents excessive buffer pressure.

In order to be able to obtain a very large amount of pressure, for instance in testing armatures with a very wide packing-flange but equally to be obtained with the flange 2 indicated, I have provided a three-waycock 22, which permits to connect the said space A'with the outside atmosphere, thereby avoiding counter-pressure within said space.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hydraulic pipe-testing device comprising two differential pistons, a clamping device operated by one piston for holding the pipe during'the test, and means for setting the pipe in communication'irst with the water supply and then with the pressure chamber of the other piston for raising the pressure, substantially as set `forth.

2. In a pipe testing device according .to claim 1, the provision of a hand-operated iston valve and means whereby four diferent settings of the valve bring about the )application of the clamps to the pipe and the rfilling of the latter with water, the raising of the Water pressure in the pipe, the closing of the ducts to maintain the testing pressure, and the return of the istons to the starting position, substantial y as set forth.

3. A device according to claims 1 and 2 in which the clamping pistoris hollow and fitted with a hollow, slidable and springpressed lbuierfor application to the pipes, substantiallyv asset forth.

4. A device according to claim 3 the buer so formed that the displacement of the buder relative to the piston on engagement with the pipe, causes a valve to be opened for admittlng water-throu h the piston to the pipe, substantially as set orth. v

5. A device according to claims 1 to 4 in which the small working space of the highpressure iston communicates with the pipe through t e clamping piston and through a duct fitted With a'valve which is closed by a spring against the normal pressure andwhich means are provided for setting the small working space of the clamping piston into communication with the atmosphere, ubstlantially as. and for the purpose set ort i 8. A device according to claims 1 to 7 iny which the clamping device comprises an. ad-

justable hollow counter-support adapted to take one end of the pipe to be tested, the sup- 10 port being in communication with a. valve when the pipe is filled and which closes wheny the Water enters the valve chamber so as to resist the water pressure, substantially as set forth.`

In testimony whereof I-have axed my signature ANTON zoRE. 

